Circuit controller



' June 10, 1930. E, RDHQL 1,762,789

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Aug. 1, 1929 .2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A. E. NorcL/volm Waa'fwz The lock rod 10 operates a contact nieclia nism A of any suitable type. As here shown a bell crank 20 is pivotally" attached at 19 to the housing 6, and isprovided'with two rollers 21 and 22-, The contactf mechanism A, as here, shown, comprises a movable contact finger 23 and a fixed contact finger The contact fingers 23 and 23 are spaced from each other; by an insulating .block 25 and are fastened to the housing 6 by means of a stud 26. An insulating block 24'is interposed between the housing 6 and the contact finger 23 and .an insulating washer 27 is interposed between the head of l the stud 26 and the contact finger.23 Furthermore, an insulating sleeve 28 surrounds .the shank of thestud 26'so that the contact so- .o ther and from thehousing 6. The roller fingers are completely insulated from each 21 on crank 20 coacts'with a sloping surface 10, while the roller 22 co-acts with an insulat- 23' The parts are so proportioned that when the switchpoi-nt 2 is moved away from the fixed rail 1, so that the lock rod 10 is moved toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, the surface 10 of the lock rod lOrwill engage the roller 21 and rotate the crank 20 in a clockwise direction, thereby moving the roller 22 into engagement with the mem- I p I .compr1sing a fixed rail and a movable switch point, a housing fastened tothe fixed rail,

ber 23, and thus closing the contact 23.23 of contact mechanism A. 5f. '7

A coil spring 30 is interposed between the right-hand endof the lock rod 10 and the housing 6 and is held inplace by an extension 10 of the lock rod 10.. The spring 30 50.

is so proportioned that-if the left-hand end of the lock rod should become broken or disspring would forcethe lock rod toward the left a suificient distanceto operate the contact mechanism A. t

The operation of the circuit eontrolleris as follows: When the switch point 2 is in engagement, with the rail 1, the parts occupy the positions in which they are illus- 23"23' of contact mechanism A is open and locking plunger. 15 engages the lock rod 10 at. the hole 10 so that switch point 2 is securely held against the fixed rail 1.., I

. switchpoint 2 form a part,

now, it is desired to reverse the switch, pedal 17 must first be operated to withdraw locking plunger 15 from the hole 10 in the lock rod 10, after which the switch may be operated, as by the usual manually controlled switch stand. lVhen the switch point is moved awayfrom the fixed .rail, -the lock rod 10 is moved to the left as viewed-in Fig. 8, and contact 23-23 of contact mechanism A becomes closed. Then the switch is next returned to its normal position, the contact 23 23 is opened, and lock plunger 15 is reread into the hole 10 in the lock rod 10 by means of thespring 16. The c'o'ntact'm'e'chanism A may be utilized to control any-suitable apparatus,--.-such'ffor example, as the-signals whichvcontrol trafiic over the switch of which; the rail 1 and a One advantage of a circuit controller em; bodying my invention is that, since the housing 6 is securely fastened to the rail 1, any

, change in the relative position of the switch point 2 with respect to the fixed rail 1 will operate the contacts of the circuitcontrollen;

Although I have herein shown-and described only one form of circuit controller embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of. the ap-;-

pended claims without departing from the ,spirit and scopeof my. invention. 10 formed on the lower side of thelock rod v I claim is: y ing member 23fastened to the contact finger 7 ;Having thus described my invention, what 1. In combination with a railway switch comprising a fixed rail and a movable switch point, a housing fastened to-the fixedrail,

tive movement of said lock rodand said housing. 1 1 2." In comb nation with a railwayswitch a movable lock rod in saidhousing operated by said movable switch pointnmanually op- 'erable meansin said housing for at times .en-

[gaging said lock rod to-prevent movement of .saidlock rod, vand a contact mechanism; ,controlled by. said lock rod.

connected ,fromthe switch point 2Hfor any reasonwhile the point 2 engages rail 1, the y amovable lock rod in said housing connected with said movable switch point and pro vided with a hole, and amanually operable 7 locking plunger in saidhousing for at times enteringsaid hole to prevent movement of i said lock rod with respect to saidhousing. trated in thedrawing, that is, the contact :point, a housing fastened to said fixed rail opposite said: switch point and provided with an aperture: in the end adjacent said;

rail, said rail being provided with a hole and said switch point being provided with an opening both of which are co-axial with the aperture in said housing; a lock rod mounted to slide in said housing and extending through said aperture, said hole, and said opening, and fastened to said switch point; manually operable means in said housing for at times engaging said lock rod to prevent movement of saidL lock rod, and a contact responsive to the position of said lock rod with respect to said housing.

5. In combination with a railway switch comprising a fixed rail and a movable switch point, a rigid housing fastened to said fixed rail opposite said switch point and provided with an aperture in the end adjacent said rail, said rail being provided with a hole and said switch point being provided with an opening both of which are co-axial with the aperture in said housing; a lock rod mounted to slide in said housing and having a threaded end extending through said aperture, said hole, and said opening; a nut screwed on the threaded end of said rod, a strap bent over said nut and provided with an elongated slot to receive the end of said rod and attached at both ends to said switch point for fastening said rod to said switch point, and means for at times engaging said lock rod to prevent movement of said switch point.

6. In combination with a railway switch comprising a fixed rail and a movable switch point mounted on a tie plate secured to a crosstie, a housing fastened at one end to said rail opposite said movable switch point and at the other end to said tie and provided on its underside with a groove, said tie plate being provided with a bent up end which enters said groove, a movable lock rod in said housing operatively connected with said switch point, manually controlled means in said housing for at times engaging said lock rod to prevent movement of said switch point, and a contact responsive to the position of said lock rod.

7. In combination with a railway switch comprising a fixed rail and a switch point movable toward and away from said fixed rail on a tie plate secured to a crosstie and extending underneath said fixed rail, a rigid housing secured at one end to the side of said rail opposite said switch point and at the other end to said crosstie and provided with a groove on its underside and with an aperture in its end adjacent said rail, said rail being provided with a hole and said switch point being provided with an elongated opening both of which are co-axial with the aperture in said housing, an upset end on said tie plate fitting in said groove for preventing lateral motion of said rail with respect to said tie, an upright member in said housing provided with a hole aligned with said aperture, a bushing in said aperture, a lock rod mounted to slide in said bushing and in the hole in said upright member and extending through the hole in said rail and the elongated opening in said switch point and provided with a hole, a nut screwed on said rod and abutting against said switch point, a strap bent over said nut and provided with an elongated slot to receive the end of said rod and attached at both ends to said switch point for fastening said rod to said switch point, a bell crank provided with two rollers, means for pivotally attaching said crank to said housing in such manner that said crank is rotated by engagement of one of said rollers with said lock rod when said switch point is moved away from said fixed rail, a contact operated by the other roller of said crank when said crank is rotated, a locking plunger mounted to slide in said housing and adapted to at times enter the hole in said lock rod to prevent movement of said switch point, a spring for constantly urging said locking plunger into engagement with said lock rod, and a pedal pivotally attached to said housing and operatively connected with said locking plunger for times withdrawing said plunger from the hole in said lockrod.

8. In combination with a railway switch comprising a fixed rail and a movable switch point, means including a crosstie for supporting said switch, a housing rigidly attached to said rail opposite said movable point and-also fixed to said crosstie, a lock rod attached to said movable point and extending into said housing, and means for at times locking said rod against relative movement with respect to said housing.

9. In combination with a railway switch comprisin a fixed rail and a movable switch point, means including a crosstie for supporting said switch, a housing rigidly attached to said rail opposite said movable point and also fixed to said crosstie, a lock rod attached to said movable point and extending into said housing, and contact mechanism responsive to the relative posi tion of said lock rod and said housing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEON E. N ORDHOLM. 

